Washburn Community
Washburn Community is a private foundation based in Washburn, Wisconsin. The Washburn Community Education Foundation describes itself as providing financial support to increase community passion for learning and makes grants for educational opportunities in the Washburn community.
Washburn Community at a glance
In short: Washburn Community gave $69K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $68,950
- +8.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- -13.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,448
- +25.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,850
- Total assets
- $1,230,414
- +7.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Washburn Community
- How to Apply
-
The 2025 filing directs applicants to an online grant application and identifies Michael Jackson as the contact. Requested materials include applicant contact details, a school district contact if applicable, a project summary, an explanation of how the project meets foundation goals, the project budget and expenses, and project revenue if applicable. The website directs applicants to submit electronically.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists a spring grant deadline of May 17, 2026, which has passed, and a fall grant deadline in December. The 2025 filing lists a spring deadline of May 15 and notification by May 31.
- Deadline
- The website lists a spring grant deadline of May 17, 2026, which has passed, and a fall grant deadline in December.
- Contact
Application contact: Michael Jackson
Mailing address: 79550 State Highway 13, Washburn, WI 54891
Phone: (715) 209-7544
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Washburn Community funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was School District of Washburn ($60K across 13 grants). Together the top 8 received $69K.
Grant Size Distribution
107 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 107 grants of 107 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s guidelines require grants to target students and residents of the Washburn School District. All grant dollars itemized for 2025 went to recipients in Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Washburn Community gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+20%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 126% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $32K (2021) to $79K (2020). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $69K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| School District of Washburn Washburn, WI | Digital Welcome Sign | $25,000 |
| School District of Washburn Washburn, WI | Swanson Senior Scholarships | $6,000 |
| School District of Washburn Washburn, WI | Fire & Ice Show Choir Grant | $5,000 |
| School District of Washburn Washburn, WI | Apostle Island School | $4,500 |
| School District of Washburn Washburn, WI | Storybook Theater | $4,500 |
| American Heritage Productions Washburn, WI | Souvenier Views Show | $4,000 |
| School District of Washburn Washburn, WI | Ornithology & Ecology Grant | $3,600 |
| School District of Washburn Washburn, WI | Wing Scholarships | $3,000 |
| School District of Washburn Washburn, WI | Resurfacing Football Field | $3,000 |
| School District of Washburn Washburn, WI | Senior Student Service Awards | $2,100 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,230,414 | $83,973 | $72,898 | $68,950 | 20 | $72,204 | $78,924 | $57,407 |
| 2024 | $1,146,895 | $88,552 | $67,177 | $63,326 | 23 | $66,486 | $56,802 | $54,623 |
| 2023 | $1,073,341 | $35,663 | $77,051 | $72,264 | 24 | $74,438 | $32,370 | $50,889 |
| 2022 | $1,025,281 | $110,787 | $61,966 | $57,462 | 27 | $60,597 | $107,363 | $52,167 |
| 2021 | $1,251,755 | $58,528 | $35,233 | $32,050 | 13 | $34,283 | $56,728 | $58,818 |
| 2020 | $1,141,206 | $50,366 | $84,602 | $79,328 | 16 | — | $44,894 | $53,364 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Washburn Community reported a distributable amount of $57K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide financial support to increase community passion for learning. Its goals include encouraging innovative learning in schools and the community, fostering creativity in teaching and scholarship, helping students develop special talents, supporting teacher professional development, expanding learning beyond the traditional classroom, and involving the community in education.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $68,950. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $25,000, with a median of $1,850. Among the largest awards were $25,000 to the School District of Washburn for a digital welcome sign; $6,000 to the district for Swanson senior scholarships; $5,000 for a Fire & Ice show choir grant; and $4,000 to American Heritage Productions for a Souvenir Views show.
The foundation’s website describes annual grants of any size for educational opportunities and discretionary grants for projects that arise during the year. Discretionary grants are limited to up to five awards per year. School projects normally funded by the district may not be considered; for a discretionary school project, the website says district funding should first have been denied. The discretionary application is limited to 300 words. Grant reports, including a descriptive project photo, are required before funds are distributed, though early distribution may sometimes be arranged at the board’s discretion.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Linda Coleman as president; Michael Jackson as treasurer; Marne Gorman-Belanger as secretary; and Patti Fenner-Leino, John P. Anderson, Sue Blong, Norma Lien, Travis Tulowitzky, Irene Blakeley, and Ivy Meierotto as vice president or directors.
Washburn Community is led by Linda Coleman, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 13 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Linda Coleman
President
Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Irene Blakeley
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John P. Anderson
Director
Vice President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Norma Lien
Director
Secretary → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sue Blong
Director
Co-President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Travis Tulowitzky
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ivy Meierotto
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denise Michaelsen
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joe Russo
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diane Tetzner
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marne Gorman-Belanger
Secretary
Co-President → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Jackson
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patti Fenner-Leino
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Heather Atherton (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Thomas Wiatr (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Mihailo Lalich (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Washburn Community
How much does Washburn Community give each year?
Washburn Community gave $69K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $63K across 23 grants.
What is Washburn Community's typical grant size?
Washburn Community's median grant in 2025 was $1,850, and its average grant was $3,448, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Washburn Community give grants?
Washburn Community gives mostly in Wisconsin: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Washburn, WI (19 grants).
Does Washburn Community give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Washburn Community's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Washburn Community's largest grantees?
Washburn Community's largest 2025 grantees include School District of Washburn ($59,900 across 13 grants), American Heritage Productions ($4,000) and Wild Pursuits LLC ($1,600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Washburn Community?
Washburn Community reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $72K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $57K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Washburn Community fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide financial support to increase community passion for learning. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Washburn Community?
The 2025 filing directs applicants to an online grant application and identifies Michael Jackson as the contact. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Washburn Community's EIN?
Washburn Community's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1933787. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Washburn Community's focus areas in our free grants database
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